Homeless Taskforce Update #10 (12/19)

The Task Force focuses on the following Action Items:

1. Follow Up December 11th Homeless Forum

Meeting information was sent to all York County State Legislators post meeting. A further data sheet is being compromised for distribution of the data for unhoused, City and School as well as impacts to General Assistance.

The Administrators from the 7 Communities participating as well as the Service Agencies are convening a meeting to follow current State Bills carried over as well as Legislative Resolves pending in the Short Session that supports the Goals set forth at the Forum.

There was concurrence that the coordination and cooperation of the participating Towns and Agencies as well received by the State Legislators and will provide meaningful clout in supporting future legislative actions. Sanford Housing Authority indicated it would use the supplied data to aid in the pending Housing First Application to Maine State Housing as being more specific than data within the HMIS* System. (*HMIS stands for Homeless Management Information System – client level data on housing and case management used for coordinated entry)

2. Optimize use of Shelter Beds, Warming Centers

Lafayette School Coordination & Use- There was no representative of YCSP to provide utilization rates or feedback on start up December 1. It was noted that unhoused are reluctant to utilize for overnight shelter, more so for food services. It will take trust to gain more use. Personal passions are a concern for users and lockers are being sought to resolve.

The Resource Hub is not yet operational for peer support and referral services.

3. Management of Dispersed Encampments

• Are there any positive gains with How the Encampments are being managed? It was noted that the Heritage Drive Encampment is a “non-bricks n mortar” type of Housing First, where there is continued case management and services provided. The City does not have the ability to sustain even this model long term.
• Trash Collection is unsightly - there was a week, Holiday, where trash was not picked up causing a large and unsightly pile. MHU doubled upon on collections and will work to keep the bags out of sight between collection dates
• Showers– YMCA indicates their facilities are still open if transported, fees paid, and supervision accompanies.
  • City Facilities has provided a list of necessary repairs to re-open the Memorial Gym Locker Room for use if so determined.
• Laundry Facilities - No avenue has been identified other than replacement of clothing and discard the unwashed.

4. Case Management by Service Providers

MHU started in response to mental health related calls and recidivism but then rapidly transitioned to the volume of homelessness, precluding from their original mission. MHU is trying to get back to mental health calls and NOT just Homeless

• Can't take and coordinate donations of cash and food, and clothes
  • Will coordinate through the identified Agencies for these donations and educate the public
• Food donations should be taken to YCSP Food Bank on Route 4
• Paper Work - Case Management - Vouchers and others
  • Sanford Housing has hired a Navigator
  • YCCAC has case managers and navigators and need to coordinate with MHU
  • Coordinated Entry using HMIS - Abigail at YCCAC is working on this coordination
    • Releases from various Agencies are still needed as only HMIS* Agencies can current see/share this information
    • Countywide conference to discuss how to share the information
    • Start with the "Sanford" Home Team as the model for all of York County
• Establish a Projects Leads Person for Public Health Professional to this Region
• List for Donations and how/where people can make these donations
  • Shelter has a specifics needs list
• Establish a Resource HUB and have them work directly with the Homeless Population
  • Establish a Team of the Service Providers
  • Housing Vouchers - send people to SHA and YCCAC
• Application to Unite Way for funding for Home Teams
• Dialog around a Dept. of Health Officer for the City or Contract Services
  • How to Fund and What is the Rate of Return around this position
  • Directing Calls to 211 based upon shear volume
    • Contact Director of 211 to ensure that information is updated and brief the Group on their Role
• Establish a Run Card within Dispatch to service these calls

Next Actions for City Administration:

1. Internal Review of Type/Number of Staff Position/s to fill the void in services or to better coordinate across Agencies and City Departments.
2. Job Description (and organizational structure) for Public Health Officer – an Executive Position
3. Job Description for Peer Support Specialist – works directly in the filed with Homeless Populations and facilitates connections to resources and services.
4. Examine a York County Service Map of Providers for best use, coordination, and voids
5. Support the York County Resource Hub to start focused on Sanford and its coordinated partners and using the HMIS System.

Mental Health Report:

• 214 Known Unhoused
• 55 Known to be outside
• Use of Warming Shelter is low and barriers are to be addressed

Due to the two next bi-weekly meeting dates falling on Holidays, the Task force will next meet on January 22, 2023